'A tribute to my Timmy’

My first ever rescue was Lovely, a 13-year-old white spitz. We found her, abandoned, standing in the blazing heat during peak summer in Kuwait. She stood by one of the pillars of our apartment and the moment I saw her eyes, I felt her pain deeply. The plan was to foster her and find her a home but soon enough we all fell in love with her and couldn’t imagine parting with her.We brought her over to India and now she is 17, still hale and hearty and as loving as ever. She loves to be cuddled and always follows us wherever we go.
She is expressive like a child and even gets nervous the moment she hears us planning a trip! I will always be grateful to this bundle of joy as she was there for me during one of the toughest phases of my life; I always tell people that she saved me.
The first time I saw Timmy was in 2015; she was a shy, timid and a loving girl. Timmy and I developed such a strong bond that we were inseparable in just a few days. She would relentlessly follow me everywhere I went and people would joke that she was my shadow. While she was kept in confinement and shown no love by her previous owner, it was the opposite at our home. We all loved her to bits and she was never caged or tied up. She would wake me up in the morning, eagerly await my return when I went out, lie by my side when I was ill. Truth be told, she became my best friend.
I learnt from her how to love unconditionally. The cutest thing about Timmy is that she would call me with her funny bark when her toy was at an unreachable spot.

I decided she will be with me for a lifetime and made arrangements to take her along with me to Singapore, where I was about to move with my fiance after our marriage. My fiancé realised how much she meant to me and the most beautiful moment was when he made arrangements to bring Timmy to my wedding ceremony in Kerala. Everyone was shocked because it was very uncommon for a “dog” to be part of a wedding, but she was not just a dog, she was my baby, my family.

But given her scarred past, her immunity was low and she would fall sick quite often. Before we could move, she caught distemper and despite our best attempts, she could not be saved. My heart broke and what followed was the most horrible period in my life. There were days when I was sleepless, reliving each memory. It aches more when the one you lost is one that never hurt you even once by thought, word or deed.

I consoled myself by saying that she didn’t have to suffer but couldn’t stop blaming myself for not being able to give her the life she truly deserved. She left such strong pawprints that even today, I see her soul in every other animal. It has only urged me to save more lives.
After a few months, my family permanently relocated to Thrissur but we missed Timmy badly. We reached out to animal activist Sally Varma and got to know of an Alsatian named Mystique, abandoned with severe injuries, under Sally’s care. We adopted her. At first, Mystique was lost, depressed, sad and was not trusting but she was calm and composed, and never had temper issues.
We never failed to show how much we loved her and soon enough, she reciprocated and now she is full of love and cheer. She is a strong healthy dog now and her gratitude has no boundaries. The most beautiful thing about rescues is that they are aware of their saviours and are ever so grateful. My mother calls Mystique a “hug baby” because she now loves to be hugged and yearns to be with us. Also, when we pamper her and give her too much attention, she actually gets shy and would cover her face with her paw. She hates baths like every other dog but she is obedient and kind. She is just magic, I’d say.
Every now and then, I wonder why God gave dogs such a short lifespan. It’s heartbreaking to see them cross the Rainbow Bridge. For the little time they are with us, they only deserve the best, for they are the best creations of God. I pray that all of us see the kindness in their eyes and reciprocate.
I am grateful to God and my family for giving me such opportunities to rescue the voiceless and save lives. There are several such animals in shelters and foster homes craving for a loving home. We have the power to save their lives, let’s use it to the fullest.